Rail-clamp



S. L. GERWIG.

RAIL CLAMP.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.3,1921.

Patented July 5, 1921.

4. Fig/$ 7 7 WITNESSES:

e a i r STUART L. G-ERWIG, OF ROME, N EW YORK.

RAIL-CLAMP.

Application filed March 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STUART L. GnRwIo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rome, county of Oneida, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for connecting the rails of railways to ties constructed of reinforced concrete, or to a concrete road bed.

The object of this invention is to provide a rail clamp with which the rail can be connected to reinforced concrete ties, or concrete road beds, in a quick and ready manner as the rails are being laid, and one which has adjustment within itself, so that the rails can be secured at the exact location required, to obtain the correct gage between the rails. Another object is to provide means to facilitate the replacing of worn out rails and use the same device for securing the new rails to the foundation.

In carrying out this invention I depend entirely upon the friction between certain specific parts for holding the rail in a fixed posltion.

The nature and scope of this invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing this device in connection with a portion of the rail and the concrete foundation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and embodying the principal features of this invention.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 respectively are alternative sectional views either of which is adaptable to be taken on the line A-A of F ig. l and show various modifications of construction.

Referring to Fig. 2. 1 is a base casing embedded in the concrete 3 and anchored to the same by bolts 4. The bolts 4 are embedded in the concrete and anchored thereto in any manner usually employed for fastening foundation bolts in concrete. 5 is a block carrying the hooked end 6 which fits over the lower flanges 7 of the rail 8. The two blocks 5 are free to slide in the base casing 1 and have grooves cut into the underside to accommodate the wedge 9.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, rear. Serial No. 449,323.

1 In laying the railway the rail 8 is first laid in ts proper location as shown in Fig. 2, resting upon the base casing 1 and the concrete 3, after which the blocks 5 are brought into position by sliding them in the base casing 1 to the position as shown, so that the hooks 6 will engage with the lower flanges 7 of the rail 8. The wedges 9 are then placed and driven in tight between the block 5 and the lower wall 10 of the base casing 1. The action of driving the wedge 1n, will also draw the block 5 in the direction shown by the arrow 11 and thereby cause a clamping action between the hook 6 and the block 5, thus clamping the rail 8 to the base casing l. The wedging action of the wedge 9 between the wall 10 and the block 5, forces the block 5 against the underside of the flanges 12 of the base casing 1, and thus clamps the block 5 to the base casing 1.

For releasing the rail 8 from the foundation the wedges 9 are provided with a hole 13 into which a bar may be inserted and the wedges driven out. It will be apparent that this releases the entire clamping action of this device and the blocks 5 can then be separatied to clear the flanges 7 for removing the rai From the foregoing parent that the location altered, to either description it is apof the rail 8 may be the right or left from that shown in Fig. 2,- or to any position desired within the limits controlled by the length of the base casing 1.

14 indicates drain holes to drain any water which might accumulate in the pockets 15 formed by the casing 1.

Referring to Fig. 5. l" is a base casing, and is in every respect like the one shown at 1 in Fig. 3, except, that the upper flanges 12, instead of being turned over at right-angle as shown, they are shaped to a bevel as shown at 18, and the block 5" is also beveled to fit the casing. All other details are like those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 4. 5 is a block, and is in every respect like the one shown at 5 in Fig. 3 except, that the hook 6 is eliminated and in its stead, the bolt 16 is screwed into the block 5 as shown at 17. All other details are like those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the head of the bolt 16 grips the flange 7 in practi cally the same manner as the hook 6 shown in Fig. 2, and the action of both is identical. The object is that the bolt 16 may be screwed of this design are identical to in or out of the block 5 and be adjusted to accommodate thick or thin flanges as the case may require. All other features and results those herein shown anddescribed in reference to Figs. 1,

2-and 3. i 7' lhe object of: the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is to obtain a higher pressure between the contacting surfaces of the block 5 and the casing 1, so as to increase the friction between these two pieces, when they will more firmly retain their position and hold the rail against exceptionally heavy-strains. All other features and results of this design are identical to those herein shown and described in referenceto Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Another means for increasing the friction between the blocks 5 and the base casing 1, is to roughen the contacting surfaces between the two parts, this may be carried out to the extent of forming fine interlocking teeth in both the parts. 7

Under certain conditions it may be neces sary to secure two rails to the road bed in such close relation to each other that there would not be sufficient room between them to accommodate the wedge 9, in this event any other means may be resorted to for clamping the inside flanges off the rails to the foundation, while the outside flanges of the rails may be clamped to the base section in the same manner as herein shown am described.- As an example, if two rails are to be secured to the road bed close together, so that the inside blocks 5 between therails are against each other, then in this event there would be no need of wedges under the two inside blocks. It the distance between the rails is such that there is a space between the inside blocks 5, then this space may be filled in with a metal block or the like, to keep them in place for holding the rail.

I wish to haveit understood that this in- "vention is not limited to the identical construction as herein shown and described, as

it is obvious that modifications can be made without departing from the nature and scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A rail clamp comprising two sliding blocks carried by a base casing, a wedge fitted between each of said blocks and the base casing the inward movement of which increases the clamping pressure between each of the blocks and the base casing, and a hook carried by each of said blocks and formed to grip the rail in a manner whereby the inward movement of the blocks increases the clamping pressure between the said base casing and the rail, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, two blocks contained in said base casing and free to slide inde pendently of each other,

gripping means carried by each of said blocks for gripping the rail and adaptable to increase the clamping pressure between thesaid base casing and the rail by the inward movement ofthe blocks, and a wedge fitted between each of said blocks and the said base casing the inward ,movement of which increases the clamping pressure between the'blocks andthe base casing. 1 g V 3. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, two blocks contained in said base casing and free to slide independently means carried by each of said blocks, the

of each other, adjustable gripping.

same being adaptable to gripthe flanges of the rail and increase the clamping pressure between the rail and the said base casing by the inward movement of the blocks, and a wedge fitted between each of said blocks and the said base casing the inward movement of which increases the clamping pressure between the respective blocks and the base casing. V

4:. A rail clamp comprlsmg a base sectlon which supportsthe rail, clamping means carried by said base section for clamping the rail thereto, and wedges driven between the said clamping means and sald base section in a direction transversely'to the rail and longitudinally to the base section, thereby locking the clamping means'in clamping condition.

5. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, two blocks contained in said base casing and free to slide independently of each other, gripping meanscan,

ried by each of said blocks for gripping the rail and adaptable to increase the clamping pressure between the said base casing and the rail by the inward movement of the blocks, and a wedge driven between each of said blocks and the said base 'casingin a direction transversely to the rail and longitudinal with thebase casing, thereby locking the blocks firmly to the base casing.

6. A rail clamp comprising a base section which supports the rail, means for holding the rail on one side to the basesection, clamping means carried by said base section for.

clamping the opposite side of the railto said base section, and a wedge driven between said clamping means and said base section in a direction transversely to the rail and longitudinally to the base section, thereby locking the clamping means in clamping condition.

7. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, means for holding the rail on one side to the base casing, a block contained in said base casing and free to slide, gripping means carried, by said block for gripping the opposite side ofthe rail and adapted to increase the clamping pressure between the said base casing and the rail by the inward movement of the block, and a wedge driven between said block and said base casing in a direction transversely to the rail and longitudinally with the base casing, thereby locking the block firmly to the base casing.

8. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, means for holding the rail on one side to the base casing, a'block contained in said base casing and free to slide, gripping means carried by said block for gripping the opposite side of the rail and adapted to increase the clamping pressure between the said base casing and the rail by the inward movement of the block, and a wedge fitted between said block and said base casing the inward movement of which increases the clamping pressure between the block and the base casing.

9. A rail clamp comprising a base casing which supports the rail, means for holding the rail on one side to the base casing, a block contained in said base casing and free to slide, adjustable gripping means carried by said block the same being adapted to grip the opposite side of the rail and increase the clamping pressure between the rail and the said base casing by the inward movement of the block and a wedge fitted between said block and said base casing the inward move ment of which increases the clamping pressure between the block and the base casing.

10. A rail clamp comprising a base casing whichsupports the rail, means for holding the rail on one side to the base casing, a block contained in said base casing and free to slide, a wedge fitted between said block and said base casing the inward movement of which increases the clamping pressure between the block and the base casing and a hook carried by said block formed to grip the opposite side of the rail in a manner whereby the inward movement of the block increases the clamping pressure between the said base casing and said rail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STUART L. GERWIG. Witnesses FRANK S. BAKER, F. E. HARTMAN. 

